Conversations 49 Sept 27, 2009

This week, Lisa Parisi, Maria Knee and Sheila Adams talked about parents not allowing permission for their child's work on the internet. Why does this happen and what can we do to make permission more of the norm?

*Note - The audio clip is only 30 minutes long due to a technical error. Ustream below has the whole show. Will try to get all the audio available soon.

Chat:

2009-09-27 11:27:12Lisa Parisi -> Welcome everyone

2009-09-27 11:28:59sheila -> Welcome back!

2009-09-27 11:29:47Lisa Parisi -> Hello Amanda

2009-09-27 11:29:54marragem -> Hi Lisa

2009-09-27 11:30:03marragem -> Hello all

2009-09-27 11:31:44sheila -> Will be streaming soon!

2009-09-27 11:32:37Lisa Parisi -> Stream is only in ustream today.

2009-09-27 11:33:46MariaK -> Welcome everyone! is it sunny where you are?

2009-09-27 11:33:46Lisa Parisi -> Welcome everyone.

2009-09-27 11:33:54Lisa Parisi -> Rainy and flooding here.

2009-09-27 11:33:59kdreavercharles -> I'm new to this format.Is it chat only?

2009-09-27 11:34:02Maureen -> Good morning. Is there audio yet?

2009-09-27 11:34:10tiffbart -> raining for two days straight

2009-09-27 11:34:12MariaK -> audio is on ustream

2009-09-27 11:34:27Maureen -> Thanks Maria

2009-09-27 11:34:39MariaK -> should be streaming

2009-09-27 11:34:44Maureen -> It's pouring here - PJ day for me

2009-09-27 11:34:54marragem -> no- rather dark here...but it should be - it's 1:30am!

2009-09-27 11:35:17sheila -> Welcome all!

2009-09-27 11:35:34PeggyG -> Good morning everyone

2009-09-27 11:35:53Maureen -> I have tomorrow off- yippee!

2009-09-27 11:36:44Maureen -> It is such a strange looking plant to grow

2009-09-27 11:37:28Maureen -> Any vampires up there- you could develop your own business

2009-09-27 11:37:47MariaK -> plenty of vampires up my way

2009-09-27 11:38:25MariaK -> the belize program is so awesome

2009-09-27 11:39:15Maureen -> One of my friends who teaches bio would love to go... but we have 2 weeks off in March, no Feb or April

2009-09-27 11:45:10kgehres -> Thanks.It sounds like a good service project for my team.

2009-09-27 11:45:17Maureen -> I used to do a Peace unit with my kids in December- instead of holidays. They were so funny- peace = "peace and quiet"

2009-09-27 11:45:31PeggyG -> We need a crash course on streaming on a Mac! I think Lorna has it figured out :-)

2009-09-27 11:45:32sheila -> :)

2009-09-27 11:46:13Maureen -> @Maria- I will find the link to my old stuff and send it your way.

2009-09-27 11:46:28PeggyG -> Jeff did an awesome job of streaming the K12onlineconference LAN party yesterday but he was on a PC.

2009-09-27 11:46:30MariaK -> I would love that maureen

2009-09-27 11:48:27 PeggyG -> I have heard Kathy Cassidy talk about parents opting out of internet use and she has almost none because she talks to them to make sure they understand how she makes it safe for them.

2009-09-27 11:49:10PeggyG -> parents just don't understand enough about it and only know what they hear on TV--scary news stories!!

2009-09-27 11:49:36PeggyG -> interesting approach Sheila!

2009-09-27 11:49:38kgehres -> I think that a lot of parents opt out simply because they do not understand the new safety practices.The news/media often portrays the negatives and the possible harm, but often doesn't cover all of the safety features

2009-09-27 11:49:40Maureen -> I sent out a google form last year and the only options were to say yes or make an appointment with me.They all said yes

2009-09-27 11:50:09sheila -> Oh,I like that Maureen!

2009-09-27 11:50:11PeggyG -> That's funny Maureen!

2009-09-27 11:50:16kgehres -> I like the idea of yes or an appointment.Sadly (or maybe not), many paresnts would say yes, just to avoid the appt.

2009-09-27 11:50:27tiffbart -> That's a nice approach

2009-09-27 11:51:12Maureen -> It worked for me.. This year I simply told them that we would be using a lot of online sites, and I sent home all the kids account info for them. No forms, no options

2009-09-27 11:51:34Maureen -> They can opt out of sex ed

2009-09-27 11:51:44PeggyG -> I don't think parents would opt out if they really understood how essential it was to their child's learning but they need to know it's safe and monitored.

2009-09-27 11:52:40 Maureen -> I think they say they are cautious, but many parents do not monitor their kids use at home- they see waay more stuff at home than I would ever allow at school

2009-09-27 11:53:03marragem -> I agree Maureen

2009-09-27 11:53:10Lisa Parisi -> Would anyone like to come into the skype call?

2009-09-27 11:53:18Maureen -> I think that parents have bought into the myth of the predator behind every keyboard

2009-09-27 11:53:22kgehres -> To play devil's advocate, however, the parents do have the rights of their children.A curriculum doesn't open their child to the entire world, nor does a paper and pencil.Not that I believe that our students shouldn't have the oportunity of all that technology has to offer.Again, just playing devil's advocate

2009-09-27 11:53:45PeggyG -> not all teachers use the internet appropriately or monitor student work! Parents need to trust their child will be safe online.

2009-09-27 11:54:12Lisa Parisi -> I understand, KGehres.But if this is the way we are teaching, then how do we allow parents to say no to the education?

2009-09-27 11:54:52 Maureen -> @peggyg- they trust us to educate them- why can't they trust us to use good judgement- especially since we have actually spent the time to find out what the risks are are work hard to monitor the kids

2009-09-27 11:55:26kgehres -> Lisa, I agree that this is an issue, particularly as technology is taking a forefront in many of our rooms.I am just citing an example of the response/argument parents may have.

2009-09-27 11:57:01Maureen -> I use gaggle and have given email accts to all my students 4-9. The parents have the acct info. The 5th graders are spending a lot of time in the chat room, saying wassup. It is a safe way for them to practice. With the younger kids it is important for them to practice all these online skills in a safe place, before they venture out into facebook, etc..

2009-09-27 11:57:32marragem -> that's what I do Sheila...& I continue to have them throughout the year

2009-09-27 11:58:06 Cathy E -> As a parent who had a daughter who was stalked I understand the scary feeling - but Maria is right - the guy got her name from the newspaper and our address from the phone book

2009-09-27 11:58:08sheila -> I was thinking one night, but maybe more is the way to go.

2009-09-27 11:58:21Maureen -> I got a lot of pushback last year when I did a lot around internet safety last year. This year I have told them that everything I use in class is on my blog and they should feel free to check it out before I use it.

2009-09-27 11:58:42 PeggyG -> in Courosa's class last week he was talking about building community and said that TRUST is the single most essential component!

2009-09-27 11:59:05PeggyG -> that's a great approach Maureen!!

2009-09-27 11:59:33kgehres -> I like that idea, Maureen.

2009-09-27 11:59:35sheila -> Of course, the students are my best advocates! They want to be a part of this community.

2009-09-27 11:59:45PeggyG -> As a principal I always found when we made the "sex ed" curriculum and materials available for parents to preview before the unit they didn't opt out.

2009-09-27 12:00:19kgehres -> How do you get parents to attend training/informational meetings?

2009-09-27 12:00:37sheila -> Well, maybe a parent night in the spring for my incoming students to preview the tools would be good too!

2009-09-27 12:01:45marragem -> @kgehres - I run them at night. Have had workshops during the school day as well - kids help run them

2009-09-27 12:01:56PeggyG -> that's always a challenge @kgehres! We need to try multiple approaches--meetings can be one approach. Maureen's blog really helped to educate them too.

2009-09-27 12:02:35PeggyG -> when you have a night that children can demonstrate what they are doing with technology, parents want to come to see their kids. Let the kids do the explaining. :-)

2009-09-27 12:02:37kgehres -> I like the idea of kids running them.Perhaps that might encourage more parents to come, even if were just the parents of the kids presenting!

2009-09-27 12:02:39Maureen -> We had a parent 411 night about using facebook, etc.. The kids came and sat on one side of the room, parents on the other. It was an interesting night. But what came thru the most was the parents were scared and the kids had no idea how scarey it is for parents- whole new way of interacting. The parents think the kids are disconnected, the kids feel like they are connecting more and more.

2009-09-27 12:03:09kgehres -> Maureen, what a great way to open the lines of communication at home.

2009-09-27 12:03:46PeggyG -> that's valuable information Lisa! we need to ask the parents why they opted out and listen to what they say!

2009-09-27 12:04:03Maureen -> @Sheila- who was that guy in mythology- who kept pushing the rock up the hill??

2009-09-27 12:04:29sheila -> "Maureen?"

2009-09-27 12:04:33sheila -> :)

2009-09-27 12:04:35PeggyG -> teachers could even model the lesson for parents that they use to teach the kids about internet safety :-)

2009-09-27 12:04:48Maureen -> @sheila:o

2009-09-27 12:05:23PeggyG -> that is such a great example Lisa!!! seeing examples of how it is used in your class is so valuable!!

2009-09-27 12:06:19PeggyG -> it takes time to educate the parents but it's really important time! we can't just say "trust me"

2009-09-27 12:07:49Maureen -> We talked the other day at dept chairs meeting re goals- one is global education. One admin said it was a lofty vision. I disagreed, saying it was do-able- used Maria and Kathy as examples. One other dept head said she thought it meant that we made sure that we "taught" about other cultures. Big disconnect.

2009-09-27 12:08:05jgarro -> -Puentes al Mundo: que vacio está hoy

2009-09-27 12:08:06marragem -> just saw this from TeachaKidd http://www.komando.com/kids/commandments.aspx

2009-09-27 12:08:42kgehres -> Definitely a huge difference between "teaching" cultures and allowing students the opportunity to actually work with those cultures.

2009-09-27 12:08:59Lisa Parisi -> Wow, Maureen.That's scary.

2009-09-27 12:09:12PeggyG -> @marragem--I saw that from Kim Komando. What did you think of it?

2009-09-27 12:10:11Maureen -> @Lisa I have VT for the school now. We are working on commenting on other VTs. Invited parents to comment too- no one yet. Takes a while to get things moving

2009-09-27 12:10:25PeggyG -> an approach that is a long list of rules that is very similar to the "filtering/blocking" approach and is very different than teaching them digital citizenship.

2009-09-27 12:10:50marragem -> @PeggyG - I agree

2009-09-27 12:10:57PeggyG -> we need to teach the kids to "think" about their responsibilities online

2009-09-27 12:11:20Maureen -> @Peggy G who was it that wrote a blog post the other day re rules- Will? He commented on the long list of don't rules vs what we can/should do.

2009-09-27 12:11:23PeggyG -> pilot programs are a great way to go

2009-09-27 12:11:41PeggyG -> I didn't see that Maureen but will definitely look for it!

2009-09-27 12:12:02Maureen -> It's like beta- it can just be a way to get things going

2009-09-27 12:12:34marragem -> at my place - they'd be asked to find another school

2009-09-27 12:13:01PeggyG -> you don't opt out of a 1:1 laptop program. Our local HS has a 1:1 program and parents have to agree to internet use for their students to attend the school. That's a HS example though.

2009-09-27 12:13:07kgehres -> Our school wants to eventually go to only textbooks online.If students can't access computers at that point, then no textbook for them?It should be interesting.

2009-09-27 12:13:38PeggyG -> administrators absolutely have to be on board and supportive!!

2009-09-27 12:14:05koch0774 -> What blog do you use in Kindergarten and how do you use it? Do the students have their own Blog or is it a class blog? Who do you talk to in your blog. Is there a Kindergarten classroom blog somewhere? I'm a Kindergarten teacher and starting to use more tech in the classroom. I just got a Promethean board and the studnets love it.

2009-09-27 12:14:29PeggyG -> we can't assume that parents understand the language of being online--we need to teach them and show them concrete examples.

2009-09-27 12:15:04marragem -> you're right Maria

2009-09-27 12:16:02PeggyG -> I have a wonderful friend who is a principal who is really trying to embrace technology but just doesn't understand all of the terms! Yesterday she said she saw RSS on the page and wanted to know if it meant "really slow service." :-)

2009-09-27 12:16:23marragem -> @PeggyG LOL

2009-09-27 12:16:40PeggyG -> I love her for wanting to learn!!

2009-09-27 12:17:55PeggyG -> I can't imagine parents wanting to opt out of that for their kids Lisa. When you explain what you're doing and why, they will understand!

2009-09-27 12:18:21PeggyG -> geography is on the test :-)

2009-09-27 12:18:23Maureen -> We do that in our school too. The same old projects every year... the bird project, the states project, the planet project, etc... It makes me crazy. Some teachers are lazy- oops shouldn't say that.... Others just don't see the possibilities. Hope that most fall in that group.

2009-09-27 12:24:28kgehres -> Maureen, that's a good time for a life lesson for that little guy...never comment/question a woman's age!

2009-09-27 12:24:32PeggyG -> that's a compliment Maureen!

2009-09-27 12:24:34sheila -> at least it wasn't great-grandmother! ?

2009-09-27 12:24:42Maureen -> Jeez Sheila!

2009-09-27 12:24:49sheila -> ;)

2009-09-27 12:25:28PeggyG -> the concrete examples for parents make a BIG difference--they may not understand the language in written explanations but they will understand when they see

2009-09-27 12:25:52PeggyG -> you know the old saying"I see and I understand"

2009-09-27 12:26:29PeggyG -> that's all part of the Chinese proverb Maria :-) I just put one line...

2009-09-27 12:28:47PeggyG -> "I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand"-Chinese proverb

2009-09-27 12:29:16Maureen -> If we could get more teachers to do it, then it would be the norm- your classroom wouldn't be the weird scary one

2009-09-27 12:29:33PeggyG -> great point Maureen!

2009-09-27 12:29:46sheila -> Right Maureen!

2009-09-27 12:30:17 PeggyG -> if it's important to teachers they need to take the time--I think that is part of the problem because it isn't as important to some teachers as it is for people in this conversation.

2009-09-27 12:31:03Maureen -> Hopefully our infrastructure will catch up and we will have enuf bandwidth to actually connect online. Got the fiber in- but it's the bandwidth that kills us!

2009-09-27 12:31:14 PeggyG -> the more you use online projects in your classroom, the more the words spreads and your parents will be the best advocates for explaining it to other parents

2009-09-27 12:32:01Maureen -> Do you have monarchs this year? I've only seen one or 2. Sad

2009-09-27 12:32:36PeggyG -> can you use the Twitter for Teachers directory organized by categories of teachers?

2009-09-27 12:32:47Maureen -> Maria- how do you keep kids tweets off the main twitter page?

2009-09-27 12:32:50PeggyG -> it would at least provide some connections

2009-09-27 12:33:18sheila -> @kinderkids

2009-09-27 12:33:29PeggyG -> what is the "safe" twitter site that Matt Montagne uses with his students?

2009-09-27 12:33:35sheila -> @thekinderkids

2009-09-27 12:34:02Maureen -> There is one like that- edmodo or yammer- which is like a walled garden approach

2009-09-27 12:34:25PeggyG -> thanks Maureen--it may have been Yammer!

2009-09-27 12:34:32PeggyG -> he was very enthusiastic about it

2009-09-27 12:35:17PeggyG -> great topic today!! what's the topic for next week?

2009-09-27 12:35:31kgehres -> This was a great first experience!Thanks!